Six Kentucky tourism agencies have partnered on a new project that tells the stories of numerous black trailblazers in Kentucky.
The Kentucky Black Trailblazers experience, a multi-county augmented reality (AR) showcase, celebrates the influential black figures who shaped the history of the Commonwealth and beyond.
Preserving History
The Kentucky Black Trailblazers experience includes 19 stops where users will hear and see, via AR, the stories of Muhammad Ali, Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Oliver Lewis, Civil Rights Leader Whitney M. Young, Jr., and more.
The experience locations include signage containing QR codes that users can scan with their device to launch the experience.
“We are thrilled to introduce the Kentucky Black Trailblazers Experience, an initiative aimed at honoring and preserving the extraordinary contributions and stories of our local heroes,” said ShelbyKY Tourism President & CEO Janette Marson. “Through the integration of Augmented Reality technology, visitors are offered the unique opportunity to travel back in time and encounter the personal histories of these remarkable individuals who left an indelible mark on our cultural heritage.”
Powered By Technology
The tourism agencies partnering on the project include ShelbyKY, Louisville, Oldham County, Bardstown, Elizabethtown, and Shepherdsville-Bullitt County.
Federal ARPA grant funds distributed by the Kentucky Department of Tourism supported the project.
The AR experience used in the Kentucky Black Trailblazers was created by the innovation studio, Tactic.
Building on the creative direction and historical guidance of the tourism agencies, Tactic worked with production partners to digitize the reenactments in three dimensions, allowing the historical figures to speak to users through QR code-enabled signage.
“This is a truly exciting and culturally meaningful use of AR, allowing users to see history ‘come to life’ in a way that hasn’t been done at this scale,” said Tactic President Peter Oberdorfer. “The potential of this medium to tell stories is boundless. But, in particular, this mix of augmented and mixed reality with live-action holographic video is a compelling example of the power of creative technology to invite new audiences to explore this important history.”
This immersive experience, which took two years to create, is free for the community to do.
For more information, visit KyBlackTrailblazers.com.
